Player Manager 2003 is probably the only football management game in which the MATCH DAY actually matters. Win or lose, you learn about the players individually and as players of your team. The new 3D engine, especially developed for the management game not only brings the skills and physical attributes of the player to the pitch faithfully but also his personality stats. The personality stats have a very visible effect on the performance of each player as you WATCH the action on the pitch. For example, you can see that a player, though he has excellent stats, tries to get rid of the ball as soon as he can. It is time for you to take ACTION. He is being hasseled by an agile opposition player, can be one of many reasons. He probably needs more support. Commentary may give you information but not the reasons.
Player Manager 2003 is not about having every player name spot on or providing columns of data. It is about the relationships in a club, relationship between the manager and his players individually and vice versa. These affect the morale, confidence, consistency and host of other visible and invisible stats of the player. Player Manager then faithfully takes these realities to the pitch and you can visibly see the effects of the quality of the management.